Socrates

Socrates

http://www.worldofbiography.com/0007-Socrates/index1.htm

Socrates was born about 10 years after the Battle of Salamis. His
father, Sophronisus, was a friend of the family of Aristides, the
founder of the Delian League, empire arose. The philosopher's mother,
Phaenarete, acted as a "midwife".

Socrates married late in life, Xantippe (Xanthi), whom he left
three sons. One an infant. There is no evidence, however, that she
was a "shrew".

When his son Lamprocles got angry because of his mother's temper,
Socrates taught him to be grateful for all the gifts a mother has
given to child.

Socrates was a good warrior, his outward appearance was grotesque,
stout and with prominent eyes, snub nose, broad nostrils and wide
mouth.

"Intellectually the acutest man of his age, he was himself the
dullest person and morally the purest.

He had an ardent and amorous temperament.

He liked to spend all his time in the streets, marketplace, and
more particularly, gymnasia. He cared little for the country. He
also talked freely to politicians, poets, and artisans about various
subjects, of their notions, of right and wrong, familiar matters
of their interest.

Socrates, as a young man, was enthusiastically interested in "natural
science", and so, familiarized himself with the nature. That "Mind"
is the source of all cosmic order because this meant, "everything
is ordered as its best, as it should be" that the universe is a
rational teleological system. He loved the "ethical", character
and conduct, both private and public, with "nature" at large.

He was one of the eminent philosophers who believed in God and
acknowledged his sovereignty. He practiced self-denial, repressed
his appetites for sensual desires and turned away from material
pleasures. He went to the mountains where he dwelt in cave. He dissuaded
men from worshipping idols and taught them the way to God, the Lord
of Mercy, until the ignorant rose up against him. They arrested
him and put him in prison to death.

What a penetrating vision of philosophy this eminent man had! He
is most distinguished of all philosophers and was well versed in
wisdom. He had a profound knowledge of such sciences as were current
amongst men and their minds.

Sophist (non-Athenian teachers who were paid to teach Athenian
youths rhetoric and other practical skills); the sophists taught
eristics or the skill of clever debate which aimed at winning arguments
and legal battles at any cost and with little concern for the truth.
The sophists were both scorned and sought after. Socrates' dialectical
question / answer method was confused with the bellicose debate
of the sophists.

Twelve-year-old boy Cricious was very sad and depressed because
his father Dayomid was sentenced to death as a punishment for treason
to Athens. When Socrates saw him, he was moved with his sadness
and depression. When Cricious asked him questions, he answered very
lovingly. Socrates, the grand man convinced a twelve-year lad to
be his friend! Later on, grown up Cricious could see that it was
Socrates' affection, more than friendship.

Once upon a time while loitering Socrates happened to meet an artisan,
who was young and enthusiastic.

Gossiping about things here and there, the artisan questioned to
Socrates, whether he should marry or not ? Obviously Socrates, replied
to the artisan that; "he should marry"; and further told, "By all
means marry. If you get a good wife, you will become happy, and
if you get a bad one, you will become a philosopher."